The Management Tip of the Day

Managing a Burned-Out Front-Line Manager .‌ More than 50% of managers report feeling burned out. Guiding their employees through the pandemic and its aftermath have exacerbated three hallmarks of burnout: exhaustion, cynicism, and a perceived lack of professional accomplishment. If you're managing a front-line manager, how can you address this? First, proactively tie their work to a greater meaning. Have conversations about what matters most to them and connect their work to those motivators. Next, focus on learning and development. Assign them new, exciting projects, have open conversations about what's needed to accomplish their goals, and be transparent about potential career paths at the company. Continue to support flexible work to give managers a sense of empowerment over their schedules and help reduce feelings of exhaustion or lack of autonomy. Finally, create a psychologically safe environment where these employees feel comfortable speaking up about their burnout in the first place—and encourage them to take any self-care measures that might help them recover. Today’s Tip  Managing a Burned-Out Front-Line Manager More than 50% of managers report feeling burned out. Guiding their employees through the pandemic and its aftermath have exacerbated three hallmarks of burnout: exhaustion, cynicism, and a perceived lack of professional accomplishment. If you're managing a front-line manager, how can you address this? First, proactively tie their work to a greater meaning. Have conversations about what matters most to them and connect their work to those motivators. Next, focus on learning and development. Assign them new, exciting projects, have open conversations about what's needed to accomplish their goals, and be transparent about potential career paths at the company. Continue to support flexible work to give managers a sense of empowerment over their schedules and help reduce feelings of exhaustion or lack of autonomy. Finally, create a psychologically safe environment where these employees feel comfortable speaking up about their burnout in the first place—and encourage them to take any self-care measures that might help them recover. This tip is adapted from “More Than 50% of Managers Feel Burned Out,” by Dawn Klinghoffer and Katie Kirkpatrick-Husk ADVERTISEMENT Stay connected with HBR. We make it our job to help you do yours. Subscribe to HBR and unlock access to unrivaled business insight and resources. Choose your subscription plan Managing Cyber Risk Check out our latest Insight Center Learn how your organization can mitigate the risk. Read now Ebook or paperback HBR Guide to Remote Work by Harvard Business Review $19.95 Learn more Don’t forget you’re entitled to 20% off your first purchase* *Use promo code HBRORGREG4. View details here. View in browser Contact us Privacy policy Manage newsletter preferences Unsubscribe

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